Scott Morrison defends accusing Bill Shorten of trying to ‘end the weekend’
Australia’s peak motoring body has slammed Scott Morrison’s electric cars plan, saying there is one key part missing.
News.com.au
November 10, 2021 i
Sky News senior reporter Caroline Marcus says the Prime Minister is “having an bet each way” after unveiling a $250 million zero emissions car fund. “I feel like people may have accepted it more readily if he (Scott Morrison) was a bit more transparent about it,” Ms Marcus told Sky News host Rita Panahi. “But to deny that there was…

Scott Morrison has also doubled down on his scathing comments about electric vehicles in 2019, insisting he does not regret accusing Bill Shorten of wanting to “end the weekend” with his electric vehicle plan.

Mr Morrison savaged Labor’s proposal back in 2019, accusing the party of trying to force Australians to give up their petrol-run cars.

"[Electric vehicles] are not gonna tow your trailer. It’s not gonna tow your boat. It’s not gonna get you out to your favourite camping spot with your family,” he said. 

“Bill Shorten wants to end the weekend when it comes to his policy on electric vehicles.”

But the PM appeared to have a change of heart about the viability of electric vehicles as he announced a new policy on Tuesday.

“This is one of the key building blocks: the future fuels and the takeoff of electric vehicles driven by Australians’ choices, and quarter of a billion dollars is being invested in this,” Mr Morrison said.

A $250m government fund to install charging infrastructure and cut costs will now be rolled out around the country as the PM attempts to get 1.7 million low and zero emission cars on the road by 2030.

Mr Morrison defended his change of strategy on electric vehicles as he faced continued criticism from industry experts over the plan.

Australia’s peak motoring body was the latest to criticise Mr Morrison, saying the federal government’s Future Fuels and Vehicle Strategy falls short of delivering the policies required to move Australians towards electric cars.



“Australia is a small player in the global marketplace and we need national policies that actively incentivise car brands to sell additional low emissions cars into Australia, providing Australian consumers with increased choice,” AAA Managing Director Michael Bradley said.

“Government co-investment in EV charging is a good first step, but if we want to move Australia from the back of the queue, we need a national Vehicle Emissions Standard that sets a national emissions target and uses market forces to incentivise car brands to import more fuel-efficient cars.”

Scott Morrison savaged Labor’s proposal back in 2o19, accusing the party of trying to force Australians to give up their petrol-run cars.
Labor hit back hard against the announcement, accusing Mr Morrison of trying to spruik the same policy that he had savaged back in 2019.

Speaking with the Today Show, Mr Shorten pointed out the similarities between the PM’s proposal and the one the former Labor leader took to the last election.

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery in politics. It is correct that I proposed putting charging stations on the national highway,” he said.

“Mr Morrison must read my policy book at night-time for ideas.”

But the PM insisted the Coalition’s policy was different, staunchly defending his criticism’s of Labor from 2019.

“I don’t regret opposing Bill Shorten’s policy. I oppose 45 per cent emissions reduction by 2030 as well. So did the Australian people,” he said.

“I don’t have a problem with electric vehicles. I have a problem with governments telling people what to do and what vehicles they should drive and where they should drive them, which is what Bill Shorten’s plan was.”

Bill Shorten accused Scott Morrison of promoting the same electric vehicle policy that he had criticised from Labor.

In statement ahead of a visit to Toyota’s hydrogen centre in Altona, Mr Morrison said his cleaner cars strategy was expected to result in more than $500m of combined private and public co-investment and more than 2600 new jobs.

“Australians love their family sedan, farmers rely on their trusted ute and our economy counts on trucks and trains to deliver goods from coast to coast,” he said.

“We will not be forcing Australians out of the car they want to drive or penalising those who can least afford it through bans or taxes.”

The government said it would fund both public electric vehicle charging stations.

whiteknight wrote on Nov 20^th, 2021 at 3:01pm:


You have been shackled? I'm shocked, shocked I tell you.

whiteknight wrote on Nov 20^th, 2021 at 3:01pm:


Nothing stopping anyone from buying an electric car.

Bad news for you is we aren't going to increase the dole high enough for you to buy one.